Pictures Of The Week
Week 48, November 2017
Clockwise from top left:
Axalp will need no introduction to most enthusiasts. The combination of stunning scenery and fast jets can make for some jaw dropping imagery, as this capture of a Swiss F-5 amply demonstrates.
Image © Piotr Kostur
Air-to-air images are always popular with UKAR, especially when they are as sharp and well composed as this one of a Luftwaffe Tornado. An iconic type shown in its element, what more could an enthusiast ask for?
Image © Stuart Freer
Some excitement has greeted the first deployment to Lossiemouth of Switzerland's Hornets on exercise. Mike Riach has used the excellent photographic opportunities afforded at the Moray base to effect in this image here, capturing the Hornet in lovely winter's evening light.
Image © Mike Riach
The JASDF has long been popular with enthusiasts and photographers, and this image of an F-15 shows why. Classic US hardware, easily accessible viewing areas and attractive paint schemes makes for a winning combination.
Image © Michael Lovering
While A330s in tanker configuration are common in the UK the boom equipped Saudi examples are far rarer. This lovely image captures the Middle Eastern visitor on approach to East Midlands airport.
Image © Tom McGhee
Aggressor markings on a classic type and a lovely composition make this image a winner for us. With a more conventionally marked F/A-18 as a background this USN F-5 is captured under the scorching Arizona sunshine.
Image © Rod McDonough
A step back in time for our last image this week with this lovely composition of a USAAF marked C-47 making the best of the opportunities presented by low winter sunshine.
Image © Dan Butcher
Pictures Of The Week
Week 47, November 2017
Clockwise from top left:
Dash-8s in government markings aren't exactly common, and this stunning paint scheme only adds to the appeal of this French example captured recently at Northolt.
Image © Westleigh Bushell
Staying with predominantly private types in government markings is this rather smart Turkish Beech King Air, captured at Bournemouth undergoing work with MCA Aviation.
Image © Daniel Ledwood
Norway is one of the biggest users of the AW101 in the Search and Rescue configuration. This example in its eye catching white and dayglow scheme is captured heading East on its delivery flight.
Image © Ian Tate
Another search and rescue type next, this time an AW-189 in the more familiar but equally attractive markings of the UK Coastguard. This example was taking part in an exercise at North Berwick.
Image © Calum Linnen
The Lithuanian Air Force are infrequent visitors to UK shores, so the sight of this C-27 at Lakenheath in beautiful winter light was particularly welcome.
Image © Matt Varley
MAKS remains a popular subject with our photographers who were lucky enough to attend, and with an extensive line up of rare Eastern Bloc types it's no wonder! This lovely image of a Yak 40 shows some of the Eastern exotica on display in stunning light.
Image © Rod McDonough
The recent nightshoot at Woodford produced some stunning images, and we make no apologies for including another this week! The use of re-enactors in period uniform really helps to bring this crewing up scene featuring XM603 to life.
Image © Steve Tron
Pictures Of The Week
Week 46, November 2017
Clockwise from top left:
We commence Week 46's selection with what could well be the thread of 2017. Ivan's stunning set of air-to-air shots features participants of the recent Northern Edge exercise over the snowy mountains of Alaska. With plenty of USAF frontline weaponry on display, it was hard to narrow our choices down, but in the end it was this shot of an aggressor F-16 that stood out to us - just look at the backdrop!
Image © Ivan Voukadinov
With the European 'off season' well underway and airshow blues kicking in, Peter travelled to much warmer climes for the Dubai Airshow. Attracting an array of acts UK-based shows can only dream of, it was the home team of Al-Fursan flying their MB-339s that made our pick from a dynamic and vibrant photo thread. Essential viewing.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Staying in the warmth, we move swiftly on to Israel where the hosts arranged a Red Flag style exercise, imaginatively named Blue Flag! The Israeli F-16s arguably wear the best looking camo scheme of all the operators of the ubiqutous Fighting Falcon, which Mark has managed to capture superbly in it's 'natural habitat', climbing away from the desert scenery at Ovda Airport.
Image © Mark Rourke
Air bases of the Swiss Air Force offer some of the best backdrops in the world, as the soon-to-close Sion Air Base showcases perfectly. Add to that a pair of F-5 Tigers and you have the recipe for a very eye catching photograph!
Image © Philippe Rey
Airshows in the East produce some stunning displays of Soviet hardware. This outstanding image of a Russian Flanker being put through its paces at MAKS really does capture the awesome power of this machine.
Image © Arkadiusz Pytlas
With the winter cold setting in and the airshow season fading to memory we are now into the season where the nightshoots come thick and fast. The recent event held at Woodford brought the opportunity to capture their beautifully restored anti-flash white Vulcan under the lights, and Andy's image selected here shows just how impressive the gloss white looks against the night sky.
Image © Andy Knott
We have seen many images of F-15s at Lakenheath over the years but few better than this one. Taken from a vantage point on-base earlier this year whilst on official UKAR duty, it really shows what an impressive aircraft the Eagle is and with reheat aglow, you can almost feel the power as this aircraft blasts skyward.
Image © Andy Evans
Pictures Of The Week
Week 45, November 2017
Clockwise from top left:
First up this week, long-time UKARian Michael wowed us yet again with another of his sets from Japan, this time at Iruma. With such diversity and rarity (at least for us in the UK) on show, it was difficult to pick a favourite, but the composition and simple yet effective editing on this based YS-11FC of the Flight Check Sqn caught our eye. The Flight Check Sqn is due to lose its YS-11FCs in 2021, so we're glad we can make the most of it in what little time it has left.
Image © Michael Lovering
Next up, it's great to see Ukrainian Air Force assets become more regularly seen at airshows recently, but we loved Hans' spectacularly-composed shot of one of the air arm's older Su-27s, not wearing the three-tone blue and grey we have seen on some other models. Add some great light and you have yourself a fine study of one of the world's most sought after airframes, wearing some very attractive colours. Well done, Hans; a great catch.
Image © Hans Antonissen
Not to be out done by Flankers, we love ourselves some Fulcrums, too! Here from POTW-regular Philippe, the rarely seen Slovakian mounts were photographed over Ostrava two years ago. Quite long in the tooth, these machines, RAC MiG's service support contract is reported to exist only until 2019, whereupon it will either be extended, or the Slovakian Air Force will have to explore other options, and discussions with SAAB would make the Gripen the likely successor.
Image © Philippe Rey
Ah, Monino. In a museum filled with machines straight out of the Gerry Anderson cookbook, the monstrous Mi-12 sitting at the entrance to the museum is almost always the most jaw-dropping, which is saying something. The largest helicopter ever built, of which there were only two, the machine is made to look magnificent by Andy's thought and composition. There was talk of Monino being closed and the exhibits scrapped some years ago, but thankfully this does not appear to have happened. Russia is a must-go location for the discerning aviation enthusiast, and when in Russia, Monino is always too good to miss.
Image © Andy Kenyon
'Tis the season to don the hat and gloves, get out the tripod and find aircraft to shoot at night. Nightshoots have really *ahem* taken off recently, and Stephen's ethereal photo of the mighty Lancaster NX611 "Just Jane", it's easy to see why. Great effects, composition that draws the eye, and a wonderful subject all make this study of the machine very deserved of a place in this week's top 7.
Image © Stephen Blee
It's not all night time photography, though. These long winter nights bring sunset forward, and allow for images thus. The Russian An-30 has been operating from RAF Brize Norton periodically recently as part of an "Open Skies" mission. The Treaty of Open Skies allows participating nations to perform unarmed reconnaissance flights over other territories in the spirit of mutual trust, respect and understanding. If that allows Wes the opportunity to bring us more An-30 shots at sunset like this one, then no complaints from us!
Image © Westleigh Bushell
On finals this week, has it really been 5 years since Italy lost its venerable F-16s? Erik's thread of Vipers based at Trapani (and as many special schemes and tails as you could shake a stick at!) really had the nostalgia juices flowing. Originally procured in 2003 after the expiry of the lease of the Tornado ADV, the F-16s were kept on strength as a stop-gap until 2012 when the AMI's Typhoon fleet had suitably matured.
Image © Erik Roelofs